mcmahon



(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. H. M8MAHON & .D.. D. MANGUM.

WIRE STRETOHBR.

N08381,569. Ptllt8dl. 24, 1888.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. E. MQMAHON & D. D. MANGUM.

' WIRE STRETGHER.

N0. 381,569. PatentedApr. 24, 1888.

(N0 Model.)

UNHED STATES PATENT nmnn JAMES H. MCMAHON, OF NEW MILFORD, AND DANIEL D. MANGUM, OF LANESVILLE, CONNECTICT; SAID MANGUM ASSIGNOR T0 SAID MCMAHON.

WIRESTRETGHER.

SIQECIPICATION 1'0rming part oi' Latten; Patent N0. 381,569 dated April 24, 1888.

Amxlicntion filcd Junc 20, 1887. Senz1l N0. 241,839. (N0 model.)

T0 all w7wm iz5 m-ay concern:

Be in kno-wn that we, JAMES H. l\IOMAHON and DANIEL D. lVIANGUM, citizens of the United States, rcsiding, respectively, ab New Milfoxd and Lnnesville, in the county of Litch fie1d and State 0f Connecticub, have invented certain new and nseful Improvenxents in \Vire- Stretchers; und we do hereby (leclar6 the fol' ]0wing t0 be n fnll, 010m, and exact dcscription 0f the invention, such as will enab1e others skilled in the nrt to which it nppertnins t0 make and use the smne.

Onr invention is adapted to all the general uses t0 which wire-stretchers are n-pplied; but will be found especially valuable in putting up telegraph, telephone, and electric-iight; wires,

und also in putting np fencewire. In Order 130 perfect the device i01 all cl-asses of work, we have provided a s'npplemental grip which Will hold the wire perfectly in 01186 the slnck has not; been entirely dmwu up by the first operation, ancl hzwe also insulated the grips, so thnt; the device may be used in rep-niring lines, even when Ehe wires 2Lre in use.

\Vibh thcse ends in view we have devised the simpie and novel construction nhich we will n0w describe referrlng by nurnbers t0 the accompanying dmwings, f0rn1ing p2ub of this speeification, in which Figure l is a side elevation illnstmting onr improved stretcher in use, 0110 side 0f the rateheb-lever being hroken away; Fig. 2, a similar side elevation looking from the opposite irection; Fig. 3, n plan view illnstrauing the Operation 0f the snpplennental grip, and Fig. 4 is a view showing Ehe supplemental grip cnrried by an independent shank.

As this device is intened to be carried up telegraph-poles,we have reduced the parts eo the smallesb nnmber possible', an(1 have made the device 1ight bub streng.

1 denotes a p1ate provided wibh ears 2, and 3 a clamp rigidly seeured to the p1ate und 01 dinarily bent to form three sides 0f a square, so tha 1'i1 will grasp the cross-bars 0f a telegraph-poie. The clamp, and with it the piate, is secured in osition in any snitab1e manner, ordinarily by n set-screw, 4..

5 denotes a shaf journnled in ears 2. The ends of th1's sha-fb projecb outward beyond bhe ears, und are sqnzmred to receive an ordinary crank or a ratcheblever, 6, ns shown in the drawinga Tbis ratehetlwer is of ordinary cohstruction, and is in most-eases easier to nse npon telegraphpoies than a erank.

7 denotes a rabchetwheel upou shafi: 5, and 8 a gravit-y-pnw] engnging therewibh.

9denotes a drun1 cnrried by the shaf between Ehe ears, and 10 is a stmp 0f any couvenieni; length, which is secured t0 the drum und adapted 110 be wound ar0nnd it. A chain or rope may 0f course be snbstitnted for the Stmp, if preferrad. At the onter end 0f the strap we provide a g1ip, 11, consisting cf levers 12, which extend outward from auch obherand levers 13, pivoted to the 0nter ends thereof. Levers 13 are usualiy cnrved inward shghbly, as shown, are pivoted together at their onter ends, and am provided with jaws 14.

15 denotes a snpplemental grip, consisting of arts 12 l3 constructed in the samemanner as grip ll,which we pivob 120 a1ink, l6wbich is in turn pivobed t0 some fixed ortion of be device. shown it1 as pivoted t0 a st-u1np', 17, formed from the san1e pieee of metal as clamp 3, as c1ear1y shown in Figs. l and 2. In order that the grips may be nsed in repairing Eines an l without the necessity for throwing the lines onb 0f use, we provide insulating coliars 01 washers 18, 0f any suitable material, ab the point where the grips arepivoted. In case the grip is nsed Wit;h a strap, as shown in Fig. 3, the strap itself, unless of metal, will insnlate the grip.

In Figs. l, 2, und 8 we have showu the supplement-al grip as made part of the sbretcher itself%hata is, pivobed so it loosely, so that 11b Will Swing 0ut; cf the way.

In Fig. 4 we have shown the snpplement-al grip as carried by an independenu shank, 19, which iS provided wibh a prong, 20, f01 attachment to a telegraph-pole or a tree.

'lhe operation is as follows: Iawl 8 is1ifted from ehe ratchebwhich allows the sbmp carrying grip 11t0 unwind. from the drun1. Tha

In the presenb insbance we have Wire t0 be tightened is then placed between jaws 14, and the crank or ratchet-Iever placed M nponone of t11e squared ends 0f shaft 5. 113

will be Seen thab the instant the winding 0f the strap upon the drum con1mences thejaws will grip the wire firrnly, the principle being -thab the greater the resistance, whether fro'm the weight of the wire 01 from any other cause, the stronger will be the hold of t-hejaws upon the wire. \Vhen obere is so rnuch slack in the wir e that; it cannob be haken up atasingle operation, the supplemen'tal jaws are swung into place and cansed to engage the wire. The instant paw1 8 is lifted frorn the ratchet theen- Lire strain of the wire will come upon thesupplemental jaws, which Will grasp 1't and hold 10 finnly in the Same manneras thejaws 0fthe manently attached to the device or madeseparate therefroxn.

It1 will of course be understood that the de- 0 tails of construetion may be varied witshin rea sonable 1imils with out changing the principle of 0111 invention.

We claim In a wire stretcher, the combination of a 3 5 platze provided with ears on 0ne side to receive the drum-shaft, and wit:hv a seeuring deviee on'the other, a square-ended shaf't; carrying a drum, a ratchetwheel 0n t-he drnm-shaft and paw1 to engage therewith, a ratcheb-lever, 4J a strap or its equivalent attaehed t-o the drum, and two gripping devices, one fixed and one attached 110 the drum-strap, eaeh composed of two pairs 0f connected toggleleversof which the outer pair has upwardly-extending grasp- 45 ing-jaws, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our-signaturc-s in presence 0f bwo witnesses.

JAMES H. MCIVIAHON. DANIEL D. MANGUM.

W1tuesses:

H. SLUYGATT, C. W. STARR. 

